MEDIA ADVISORY: UN SECRETARY-GENERAL'S STATEMENT ON THE DEATH OF LEE JONG-WOOK, DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

MEDIA ADVISORY: UN SECRETARY-GENERAL'S STATEMENT ON THE DEATH OF LEE JONG-WOOK, DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

May 22, 2006

 

    UNDP issued a condolence statement today by Kofi Annan
for the death of Lee Jong-wook as below:


    "I am shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the
sudden passing of Dr Lee Jong-Wook, Director-General of the
World Health Organization.  
 
    Dr Lee died as the World Health Assembly opened its
annual meeting in Geneva today. 
 
    It was just a few days ago that Dr Lee and I spoke by
telephone while I was visiting Seoul, Republic of Korea. 
Our conversation touched upon WHO's long-running efforts to
tackle the global challenge of HIV/AIDS -- an area that he
was particularly committed to -- as well as the Roll Back
Malaria campaign.
 
    Dr Lee took over the reins of WHO in the wake of the
SARS outbreak of 2003, and had been working energetically
to strengthen the organization further in its global public
health responsibilities.  He was at the forefront of the
global fight to prevent an avian flu pandemic, and was a
champion as well in the battle against a host of other
public health threats from HIV/AIDS to tuberculosis.
 
    Dr Lee gave more than 20 years of dedicated service to
the WHO.   Not only was he a valuable leader to WHO staff
the world over, but a cherished colleague and friend to me
personally. 
 
    I extend my deepest condolences to Dr Lee's family, WHO
staff and to the entire UN family. This sudden loss of a
leader, colleague and friend is truly devastating.
 
    Beijing
    May 22, 2006"


    For more information, please contact:

    Roy Wadia, WHO
    Tel:  [phone] x681

SOURCE  United Nations Development Programme